One police officer opens a car door, and another looks inside. Did they search without a warrant?

One police officer opens a car door, and another looks inside. Did they search without a warrant?

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The Petitions of the Week column highlights a selection of cert petitions recently filed in the Supreme Court. A list of all petitions we’re watching is available here.

A police officer who opens a car door and looks inside, without permission, probable cause, or a search warrant, violates the Fourth Amendment’s ban on “unreasonable searches.” This week, we highlight cert petitions that ask the court to consider, among other things, whether two officers likewise commit a search when … Read the rest

What level of suspicion do police need to enter a home without a search warrant for an arrest?

What level of suspicion do police need to enter a home without a search warrant for an arrest?

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The Petitions of the Week column highlights a selection of cert petitions recently filed in the Supreme Court. A list of all petitions we’re watching is available here.

It is unconstitutional for police to enter a home without a warrant to arrest someone if they do not have “reason to believe” the suspect is in the home. This week, we highlight cert petitions that ask the court to consider, among other things, whether that standard is equal to … Read the rest

Medical marijuana money and purses without probable cause

Medical marijuana money and purses without probable cause

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The Petitions of the Week column highlights a selection of cert petitions recently filed in the Supreme Court. A list of all petitions we’re watching is available here.

Can a police officer rummage through your purse if they find you in someone else’s home that they have a warrant to search? And if your purse contains suspicious amounts of allegedly state-licensed medical marijuana, can federal authorities prosecute you for possession of a controlled substance? This week we highlight … Read the rest